De Marco, Marcella (2012). Audiovisual Translation through a Gender Lens. Amsterdam- New York: Rodopi (Approaches to Translation Studies), 240 pp.

Abstract

Investigators in Translation will certainly welcome this recently published volume on audiovisual translation and its relationship with the representation and transmission of stereotypes. De Marco skillfully weaves an elaborate research study where Gender Studies and Audiovisual Translation intermingle with the aim of examining “(1) whether the translations transfer to the other languages the gender-oriented prejudices inherent in the language of the original version, (2) whether the translations reinforce any prejudices by adding sexist, racist or homophobic nuances which are not found in the original and (3) whether the translations delete or neutralize any biased attitudes” (107). The book, which is divided into four chapters, offers an invaluable theoretical framework that allows a subsequent thorough analysis where concepts from Gender Studies are related to Sociolinguistics, Film Studies and Translation Studies. The first chapter of the volume presents the theoretical basis upon which De Marco’s study is based. It provides a detailed overview of Gender Studies, connecting gender issues with ideological aspects of translation and introducing the new directions in which Gender Studies has branched out, Gynocriticism, Gay and Queer Studies. Under these branches, De Marco deals with the notion of masculinity and femininity and the difference between ‘masculinity’ and ‘masculinism’ (Brittan 2001). The socio-cultural dimension involved in these concepts allows her to relate them with translation, which is considered a cultural space. The cultural dimension of translation is highlighted by the introduction of the ‘cultural turn’ and the Polysystem Theory, the approach adopted for analysis in Chapter 4. Furthermore, De Marco establishes similarities between gender and translation, like the fact that both Gender Studies and the study of translation may be approached from multiple angles (49). Likewise, the author suggests an approach to Audiovisual Translation similar to the one proposed by Diaz Cintas (1997), who considers screen translation as a product that embraces a social, cultural and ideological perspective, and she concludes with an exposition of the case of audiovisual translation in Spain and Italy, the cultures of the target texts analysed. After the interdisciplinary approach to translation, Chapter 2 tackles the issues of sexism and gender stereotypes as the effects of a mental process of categorization (75). The first part of this chapter is devoted to the relationship between androcentrism, sexism and stereotypes. De Marco deals with the impact of male-centred patterns, the use of gender-derogatory language and face-threatening acts on the portrayal of stereotypes. Throughout this part the author attempts to show that “language is not sexist per se. […] It is the set of bad habits and false beliefs that are filtered through words that makes